ST. LOUIS, MO (KPLR) – Dr. Sonny Saggar talked with Christine Buck about beating the holiday blues. Connect with Dr. Saggar, the Medical Director at St. Louis Urgent Cares at: • www.stlurgentcares.com • Twitter: @DoctorIsInSTL • Facebook: DoctorIsInSTL • Blog: DoctorIsInSTL.com Many people have a tough time this time of year for a variety of reasons.

Stress

Fatigue

Unrealistic expectations

Financial stress

The inability to be with one’s family and friends

. Balancing the demands of shopping, parties, family obligations, and house guests may contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed and increased tension. People who do not view themselves as depressed may develop stress responses, such as:

Headaches

Excessive drinking

Over-eating

Insomnia

. Others may experience post-holiday sadness after New Year’s Day. This can result from built-up expectations and disappointments from the previous year, coupled with stress and fatigue. Some tips for coping with holiday stress and depression: 1. Set realistic goals for yourself. 2. Pace yourself. Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle. 3. Make a list and prioritize the important activities. This can help make holiday tasks more manageable. 4. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. 5. Do not put all your energy into just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day, New Year’s Eve). The holiday cheer can be spread from one holiday event to the next. 6. Live and enjoy the present. 7. Look to the future with optimism. 8. Exercise! At least a couple of times a week, if not daily. Exercise is a potent antidepressant. 9. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment and sadness by comparing today with the good old days of the past. 10. If you are lonely, try volunteering some time to help others. 11. Find holiday activities that are free, such as looking at holiday decorations, going window shopping without buying, and watching the winter weather, whether it’s a snowflake or a raindrop. 12. Limit your drinking, since excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression. 13. Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way. 14. Spend time with supportive and caring people. 15. Reach out and make new friends. 16. Make time to contact a long-lost friend or relative and spread some holiday cheer. 17. Make time for yourself! 18. Let others share the responsibilities of holiday tasks. 19. Keep track of your holiday spending. Overspending can lead to depression when the bills arrive after the holidays are over. Extra bills with little budget to pay them can lead to further stress and depression. Is the environment and reduced daylight a factor in winter time sadness? Animals react to the changing season with changes in mood and behavior. People change behaviors as well, when there is less sunlight. Most people find they eat and sleep slightly more in wintertime and dislike the dark mornings and short days. For some, however, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and to cause considerable distress. These people may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). St. Louis Urgent Cares presently has 4 locations in St. Louis, and all 4 are active participants in Direct Medical Care (the insurance alternative): Downtown Urgent Care, Eureka Urgent Care and Creve Coeur Urgent Care, and North City Urgent Care.

Not just Urgent Care and Primary Care!

We strongly believe that PREVENTION REALLY IS BETTER THAN CURE.

Downtown Health & Wellness is the home of carefully appointed Mindfulness & Meditation Spaces, where you can come and visit as a group, have a retreat as a group, just talk among yourselves in a beautifully themed space, or partake in some of our services, such as guided meditation, group yoga, group acupuncture, massage, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and even get an executive physical.